Home > AA312 Total War & Social Change 1914-1955
Question: “Whilst all major European powers bear a share of responsibility for the commencement of hostilities in 1914, the largest must be allotted to Austria-Hungary.” Discuss.
Answer: The outbreak of hostilities in 1914 resulted from both long and short term factors, the final trigger being the assassination of Austria-Hungarian Archduke Ferdinand by Serbian terrorists. Whilst the Austria-Hungarian response to this leads to conclusions that Austria- Hungary should be allotted the largest responsibility for the outbreak of war, it will be argued that this responsibility was only for the July Crisis of 1914 and that in terms of the escalation to European war, long term causative factors were of greater importance. In this, all major European powers, especially Germany, must shoulder responsibility to varying degrees. Responsibility for World War I has caused continuing debate among historians from its outset.
Austria-Hungary’s deliberately unacceptable ultimatum to and declaration of war on Serbia began the outbreak of hostilities leading ultimately to the involve...(short extract)
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- Subject: World War 1 and 2
- Course: AA312
- Level: Degree
- Year: 2nd/3rd
- Mark: 67%
- Words: 1992
- Date submitted: January 13, 2009
- Date written: March, 2007
- References: Yes
- Document type: Essay*
- Essay ID: 88
